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There was once a very sensitive child, about seven or eight years old, who struggled with fears about punishment and hell. Each night when he went to bed he was terrified about dying and needed continuous reassurance that everything would be all right. So his parents continued to say his bedtime prayers with their son and to remind him of the good news of Jesus concerning everlasting life. But no matter how hard the parents tried, the boy’s fears persisted.

Then one evening the father decided to make eternal life more concrete to his son. He went to the file cabinet and got out his son’s baptismal certificate. He showed his son the certificate and explained what it meant, how it could remind him that one day he will go to heaven. Then the father told him that whenever his fears returned, he could look at his certificate and touch it and then remember what it meant. From then on, that boy turned to his baptismal certificate every time he needed assurance during the night, and his fears finally faded away. He was certain of Jesus’ love, forgiveness, and eternal life, and this finally brought the boy peace.